Poverty and living standards in Calgary, Canada: official figures
9.0% of people in private households in Calgary, 115,560 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), 23rd lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
How many children in Calgary live in poverty?
10.7% of children under 18 in Calgary lived in low-income households in 2020 (LIM-AT), joint 27th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 11.9%); among residents aged 65 and over the rate was 10.4% (Canada: 15.0%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the low-income cut-off rate in Calgary?
By the stricter low-income cut-offs after tax (LICO-AT), 5.8% of people in Calgary were in low income in 2020 (Canada: 5.2%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Calgary are in core housing need?
10.2% of households in Calgary, 49,860, were in core housing need in 2021, meaning their home was unaffordable, crowded or in need of major repairs and they could not afford an acceptable local alternative; that was joint 31st lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 10.1%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Calgary spend too much on housing?
22.9% of households in Calgary spent 30% or more of their income on shelter costs in 2021, joint 33rd highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 20.9%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many renters in Calgary struggle with housing costs?
Among renter households in Calgary in 2021, 34.4% spent 30% or more of income on shelter, 20.6% were in core housing need and 9.0% lived in subsidized housing; among owners, 17.7% spent 30% or more and 5.6% were in core need (Canada: renters 33.2% and 20.0%, owners 14.8% and 5.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow Calgary compares with other cities in Canada
Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Calgary ranks 47 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury | 9.5% |
| 45 | Mississauga | 9.4% |
| 46 | Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo | 9.3% |
| 47 | Calgary | 9.0% |
| 48 | Ottawa | 8.9% |
| 49 | Ottawa - Gatineau | 8.8% |
| 50 | Surrey | 8.8% |
Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Calgary ranks 41 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Kingston | 11.3% |
| 39 | Sherbrooke | 11.1% |
| 40 | Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo | 10.8% |
| 41 | Calgary | 10.7% |
| 42 | Ottawa | 10.7% |
| 43 | Surrey | 10.7% |
| 44 | Kelowna | 10.6% |
Households in core housing need, 2021 Census (2021)
Calgary ranks 38 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households in core housing need, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Kingston | 10.4% |
| 36 | Regina | 10.3% |
| 37 | Saanich | 10.3% |
| 38 | Calgary | 10.2% |
| 39 | Kitchener | 10.2% |
| 40 | Chilliwack | 10.1% |
| 41 | Oakville | 10.0% |
Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census (2021)
Calgary ranks 33 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Kitchener | 23.3% |
| 31 | Hamilton | 23.2% |
| 32 | Burlington | 23.1% |
| 33 | Calgary | 22.9% |
| 34 | Guelph | 22.9% |
| 35 | Brantford | 22.4% |
| 36 | Belleville | 22.3% |
More on Calgary: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · all cities in Canada
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001): census subdivisions, selected characteristics (Census Profile SDMX API extract, dataflow DF_CSD, gender total, counts and rates), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 46d086943a5e…)
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